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'Big Bottom' is a musical riot

The highlight of the act last Saturday night at 7: Black Cats was definitely the topless woman smacking her breasts together to the tune of the performers on stage.

The opening acts that is.

Then came Big Bottom, the headliner of the evening. The band composed itself after the good laugh it got from watching the "exotic" dancer, and headed up to the stage.

There really isn't one word to describe Big Bottom. What started out as a punk/pop type of band has evolved into a country/alternative sound that guitarist Ryan Christie describes as "kitchen rock."

Then all the guys chimed in. "Yeah, we're sort of an improv band & rock 'n roll. We like to jam but we have an alternative edge."

"So you're an improv bass rock jam band with an alternative edge?"

Bass guitarist Kerry Dinsmore pondered a minute before replying, "Yeah we're kinda like the Grateful Dead on coke or speed or something."

Pause.

Then they all started laughing again.

That's just what it was like to interview the 20-something guys of Big Bottom. Laid back, casually dressed, and one wise crack after another from the four members, most of whom are (or were) students at UA.

D. Shayne Christie, the band's lead singer and Ryan's older brother, has been in and out of the music scene since his high school days, along with the other members of the band. According to his bio, he played drums for the Jackson 5 back in 1967. (Note: Christie's bio also says he's only 25.)

Drummer Ben Weckerle has described himself as a "musician for hire." He shipped his life from Vermont to the Arizona desert last March when he joined Big Bottom. His taste in music ranges from classic rock 'n roll to jazz to even a little bit of country.

"I don't like Clint Black though," he made clear. "No Clint Black."

The elder Christie's biggest musical inspirations were rock bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan. Ryan mainly follows in the footsteps of Shayne, but has recently added Phish to his roster of influences.

There wasn't always a Big Bottom bouncing around the clubs of Tucson. The band started out with the name Shindig until it was forced to change it a year ago. Apparently, Shindig was a band already owned by another major corporation, so the boys brainstormed.

"We had a hard time thinking of a name," Shayne said. "Big Bottom describes our type of performance. We hit a peak during our show and that's it. We go from high to nothing, like the bottom drops out of the music." They add that where the music goes from that low-point is part of the fun.

The band's release party for their new album High Impedance is on Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Velvet Tea Garden off 4th Ave. Music lovers are all invited and are guaranteed to get a rise out of Big Bottom's shows. College kids can't beat their next-to-nothing cover charges, and tickets for upcoming shows are usually $5.

"Oh yeah it's all about the money," Shayne Christie said. "We won't even pay without an initial booking fee of at least $200, in small, unmarked bills."